(Posted August 9, 2011)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Four Juniata College spring student-athletes have been named to the Landmark Conference 2011 Spring All-Academic Team, which was announced Tuesday.

Russ Gray (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) for baseball, Ceth Parker (Sabillasville, Md./Catoctin) for men's outdoor track and field, Amanda Gerlach (Mesa, Ariz./Marcos de Niza) for softball, and Laura Gregory (Morrisonville, N.Y./Seton Catholic Central) for women's tennis, were among the 28 student-athletes from across seven Landmark Conference institutions named to the team. Selections from the United States Merchant Marine Academy will be announced at a later date.

Gray produced a strong junior year on the baseball diamond for Juniata. He posted a .343 batting average with 23 hits, nine runs scored and 12 RBI, which came after he hit .241 in his sophomore year. He's studying accounting and is a member of the Business Honor Society. He's also a student representative to the Juniata Budget Committee, and serves on the college's Audit Committee.

Parker has excelled for three years in track & field and cross country. He was an All-Conference performer in cross country, and had an eighth-place finish in the 1,500 at the Landmark Championship. He is pursuing a degree in biology, has spent two years as a member of Juniata's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and is a five-time Landmark Academic Honor Roll choice.

Gerlach is a two-year starter for the Juniata softball team. She has hit .290 over her two collegiate seasons, including 23 hits this past season as the team's starting third baseman. She's served as a volunteer softball and volleyball, is a member of the Business and Juniata Honor Societies and is active on the Juniata Activities Board, while studying business and life sciences.

Gregory posted seven wins for the Juniata tennis team as a senior. She was also 4-10 in doubles in her senior year, and had 11 singles win over her career, despite missing her junior year while studying abroad in Mexico. During that year she studied the sexual health knowledge of middle school students, earned Dean's List honors eight times as a health, conflict and society major.

Two male and two female student-athletes from each of the eight Landmark Conference institutions are selected for the All-Academic Team, which honors student-athletes who have excelled athletically and academically. Nominees for the Spring All-Academic Team could compete in any of the Landmark's spring sports, and must have at least sophomore academic standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00.

The 2011 Spring All-Academic Team contains 14 seniors, 10 juniors, and four sophomores. All four Juniata honorees are first-time selections to the All-Academic Team.

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.